Category Archives: News / Updates

Elder Dog Canada

Are you a senior who needs help caring for your dog?

ElderDog Canada offer free dog care services for seniors in the Lower Mainland.

ElderDog Canada supports seniors in the care and well-being of their canine companions. Our volunteers help with dog care activities like dog walking, basic grooming, feeding, administering medication, and transportation to and from the vet or groomer. We also provide foster care (placing a dog in an approved foster home when a senior is temporarily unable to care for their dog) and re-homing (placing a dog into an approved home when a senior is permanently unable to care for their dog).

Our Vancouver Pawd provides services throughout the Lower Mainland area. There is no charge for any of our services. ElderDog Canada is a federally incorporated non-profit and registered charity.

For more information download this PDF Elder Dog Canada

Phone: 1.855.336.4226
Email: info@elderdog.ca
Website: ElderDog Canada’s On-line Store (elderdogcanadastore.ca)

Johnson Insurance 2021 Scholarship Program

Johnson Insurance 2021 Scholarship Program Opens April 15th, 2021
Building on our History of Supporting Customers and Communities

For many Canadian students, the jump from high school to post-secondary education is a thrilling transition into adulthood, but one that comes with new financial responsibilities.

At Johnson, we understand the challenges faced by students during their pursuit of higher education, and we are proud to offer scholarships to help them achieve their dreams. Since 1998, Johnson has awarded over 1500 scholarships and academic grants valued at more than $1 million to support young Canadians coast to coast in pursuing their post-secondary education.

This year, we are pleased to offer 50 scholarships worth $1000 each to students who fall into at least one of the following categories:
• if you, your parent/guardian or grandparent have a:
o home or car insurance policy through Johnson or
o MEDOC travel insurance policy or
o group benefits plan (such as health, dental or life insurance) through Johnson
• if you, your parent/guardian or grandparent are a member or employee of a Johnson recognized
group (policy not required)

Students must complete high school in 2021 and must be beginning post-secondary education this fall or Cegep (if living in the province of Québec).

Applications for the Scholarship Program will be open starting April 15th, 2021. Completed application forms must be submitted by July 15th, 2021 and must include a transcript for the period of September 2019 to December 2020. NOTE: Recognizing the impact of COVID-19, unofficial transcripts will be accepted – bearing the student’s name and date – from student accounts where official transcripts are not available.

For more information on applying, please see the online application form and Scholarship Program Guidelines to obtain full requirements and submission instructions, or please visit johnson.ca/scholarship

Update on the status of Unit R55

To all Members of the (former) Unit R55 of USW Local 1944

The status of retirees in USW Local 1944 and a Report on the USW Local 1944 Convention, held in Burnaby, on March 20 to March 22, 2018

On March 16th, 2018 the President of the USW international, Leo Gerard imposed a new set of bylaws, (formerly the TWU Constitution) on USW Local 1944. These new bylaws decertified Unit R55. These new bylaws extinguished the rights of Retirees.

On March 17, the Executive of R55 asked the International President of the USW if retired members were still eligible to run for the position of Pension Trustee?  Were the delegates of Unit R55 still eligible to vote for Pension Trustee. These are rights that the retirees have had for the last 10 years.

On March 18th the President of the USW responded in writing that since retirees and R55 members were no longer members in good standing of the USW they could not vote for or stand for the position of Pension Trustee.

Subsequently on March 20th at the convention, the President of USW local 1944, Lee Riggs ruled that Carol Nagy, the current retiree trustee on the pension board is not eligible to run for her position on the board.  On March 22 the President ruled the nomination of two retirees for the position of Pension Trustee was out of order because they were no longer members in good standing, due to the fact that retirees have no status in the USW.

Background to these decisions     

When the merger talks with the USW began, local R55 was in contact with the Executive of the TWU to express the member’s concern about the election of TWPP Trustees. In 2013, the President of the TWU, Lee Riggs gave his written commitment that he would strike a committee comprised of R55 executive members, TWU Executive Members, the Constitution Committee and Pension Trustees to ensure that the Retirees would maintain their voice and responsibility in the selection of Trustees.

No committee was ever struck by the President despite repeated requests in writing and at convention.

In 2015, the merger agreement was signed between the TWU and the USW.  One of the statements in that agreement was “The merger of the TWU and the USW does not alter the structure, governance or funding of the TWPP.”

In January 2018 a committee was struck to deal with the integration of the TWU constitution or bylaws and the USW local Amalgamated Bylaws.  Recommendations were made to the International on what changes would be made.  While it was recommended to abolish R55, two members of the committee did raise the issue of the commitment made to the retirees.  The President of USW 1944 Lee Riggs did attend a meeting with the International after these committee meetings to discuss these changes.  We now know that nothing was done to live up to the terms of the merger agreement or the commitment made by the president on the subject of protecting the rights of retirees and UNIT R55 members

At the March 20th Convention (LADM), the delegates of R55 were not allowed to be seated, per the new Bylaws and attended as visitors. We were denied the right to have voice on our status.  At the end of Convention day, the president of R55 Rick Fleming and an R55 Delegate Peter Massy met with USW officials in an attempt to resolve this issue.  The purpose of the meeting was to find a way to have retired member on the TWPP Board and give the retirees a vote on who that Trustee would be.

We are waiting for an answer. We will update you when we have one and what actions could be taken in the event that there is no satisfactory resolution of this matter.

In Solidarity

The Executive of (former) UNIT R55

President  Rick Fleming     nicole.rick@telus.com
Vice President Jeanette Lacey    jm_lacey@telus.net
Secretary Jennifer Meloche    jennifermeloche46@gmail.com

Letter to all Unit R55 Members

During the merger negotiations between the TWU and the USW there was concern that retirees’ representatives, Unit R55 delegates, would lose the right to vote for TWPP Pension Trustees.

The President of the TWU, Bro. Lee Riggs, issued a letter of commitment to the Executive of Unit R55 and the BCARTW that he would ensure the rights of retirees would be protected.

That promise has been broken. A copy of that letter is attached.

The USW, who consider themselves a democratic union, arbitrarily imposed new bylaws on Local 1944 without a vote from the membership. These new Bylaws have revoked the Charter of Unit R55. This means that our delegates cannot vote for Pension Trustees.

For the last number of years, the Executive of Unit R55 has been working to resolve this issue with no response from the Executive of TWU – USW Local 1944.

The next Pension Trustee election is at the Local Unit Delegated Meeting (LUDM) (previously TWU Convention) beginning March 20, 2018. Two days before this LUDM the Executive of Unit R55 was advised that the Unit R55 Charter was revoked.

We have drafted a letter of appeal to the USW International President Leo Gerard and the Executive members of the USW and TWU Local 1944. A copy of that letter is attached.

We are asking retired members, if concerned, and if able, to come to the opening of the LUDM on Tuesday morning March 20th in a show of support for Unit R55.

The LUDM is being held at the HILTON METROTOWN, 6083 McKay Ave. in Burnaby. The LUDM begins at 8 a.m., so it would be best to be there at 7:30 am.

This is very short notice, so if you are unable to attend it is understandable.

In Solidarity,
Unit R55 Executive

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